Pee-Wee Harris Adrift eBook

“Reach over to the west coast and hand me that
pole from the north coast before it goes over to the
east coast,” said Townsend quietly.

“Get up! Get up!” shouted Pee-wee,
all excitement. “Aren’t you going
to get up?”

“Positively,” said Townsend, dragging
himself to his feet.

“Shh!” said Pee-wee, “let’s
surprise them.”

“You’re the only one that’s making
any noise,” said Townsend.

“I mean myself, too,” said Pee-wee.
“Shhhh.”

“He’s telling himself to keep still,”
Brownie, unable to control his laughter.

“I mean all of us—­me too,”
said Pee-wee. “Shh.”

It was during the long and rather difficult process
of poling the island to shore that Pee-wee, unable
to impose more than comparative quiet upon himself,
edified his companions with an account of his recent
adventure in Barrel Alley.

And it was his seemingly ominous mention of “cops”
and fugitives which Minerva Skybrow and her friends,
lingering at the little refreshment tent near the
river, overheard. At that moment the desert island
was bobbing against the thick rhododendron bushes
at the edge of the lawn.

CHAPTER XIX

THE EARTHLY PARADISE

“I don’t care who it is or what it is,”
said Dora Dane Daring; “I’m not afraid
of the biggest bandit that ever lived. I’m
going to find out what those men are doing lurking
about here.”

Without another word she strode forward, parted the
rhododendron bushes, and confronted the marauders.

“I discovered this island,” said Pee-wee;
“we’re exploring it. One of these
fellers is a native because he was on it before it
was an island.”

“Look out you don’t get your feet wet
on the stern and rock-bound coast,” said Townsend.
“Hold the lantern, Brownie.”

“Did you ever see such a thing!”
said Minerva Skybrow, emerging through the bushes,
accompanied by her official staff. “Walter
Harris, what in goodness’ name are you doing
here? I thought you were robbers. What
in all creation are you up to? And how
did you happen to get here?”

“We’ve been going around quite a little
lately,” said Townsend quietly.

“This is Townsend Ripley,” said Pee-wee;
“he’s a friend of mine; these fellers
are all friends of mine. We’re exploring.”

“We’re very glad to meet you, Mr. Ripley,”
said Minerva, while Miss Daring whispered in the ear
of Miss Timerson, “Isn’t he nice?
So tall.”

“We thought we’d come to the party,”
said Pee-wee.

“Have you any parking space for islands?”
Townsend asked.

“Oh, indeed we have,” said Minerva,
“and you’re going to be the star guests.
May we step on the island?”